World Cafe Event for Creative Industries SMEs

Exploring how Welsh SMEs in the Creative Industry can prevent, detect and respond to Modern Slavery

Modern slavery is a severe violation of human rights, affecting industries globally, including in Wales. The UK’s Modern Slavery Act (2015) mandates large companies to report their anti-slavery efforts, but SMEs, which constitute 99.3% of Welsh businesses, are not bound by such requirements. Despite their smaller size, SMEs play a crucial role in combating exploitation within supply chains. Current research has primarily focused on larger corporations, leaving a significant gap in understanding how SMEs can tackle this issue.

This project is led by a team of researchers from Cardiff University’s Modern Slavery and Social Sustainability Research Group in collaboration with Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) and its Creative Industries Cluster, supported by Media Cymru. It seeks to address how Welsh SMEs prevent, detect, and respond to modern slavery. It aims to create a framework to facilitate modern slavery risk management in SMEs.

Who is facilitating this event?

The Cardiff University research team includes Dr Maryam Lotfi and Dr Anna Skeels Co-Chairs of the University’s Modern Slavery and Social Sustainability Research Group; and Dr Marian Buhociu from the University of South Wales. CCR and Media Cymru staff will be present and in support.

What’s the focus?

An interactive exploration of the challenges faced and potential solutions for preventing, detecting, and responding to movern slavery in SMEs. The data collected will feed into and be analysed as part of the research to develop a framework for modern slavery risk management in SMEs.

Who is it for?

Representatives from Welsh Creative Industries SMEs in the Cardiff Capital Region – sustainability managers, CEOs, founders, EDI coordinators, wellbeing officers and other relevant roles.

About the event

A brief training session on modern slavery risk management in supply chains with specific focus on the need for SMEs, and facilitated focus group discussions on key research questions in rotation (‘world café’ method). Inputs will be audio-recorded and notes taken but then fully anonymised.